ostrander



. A. E. OSTRANDER.

GENERAL SERVICE CAR.

APPucATmn miv ocr. 2. 191s.

1,354,915'. Patented im. 5,1920.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. E. OSTRANDEH.

GENERAL SERVICE CAR.

APmcATlou msn oc. 2. 191s.

1,354,91 5. Patented ont. 5, 1920.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QQ. gk. hmmag A. E. OSTRANDER..

GENERAL SERVlCE CAR..

APPLlcMloN FILED 001.2, 1-918.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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A. E. OSTRANDER.

GENERAL SERVICE CAB.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 2. I-QIB.

1,354,915, V muted (ICI-5,1920

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A, E. STRANDER.

GENERAL SERVICE CAR.

APPLICATION man ocT. 2, 191e.

Patented oct. 5,1920.

A. E. OSTRANDER.

GENERA sERvLcE CAR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 2, 1918.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

:SHEETS-SHEET e.

A. E. OSTRANDEH.

GENERAL SERVICE CAR.

APPucATmN FILED ocT. 2, 191s.

1,354,915. Emma oct. 5, 1920.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

3 vw@ ufo@ ALLE/v f. 06f/Win00? UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

.ALLEN E. OSTRANDER, OF RIDGEW'UQD, NEU? JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TU AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COTVlIlPADlVi,` OF NEWV 'FISE/K, N. Y., A CORPURATION 0F NEW' JERSEY.

GENERALeSEItVICE CAR.

Application filed October 2, 1918.

To all ytio/0m` t may concern Be it known that I, ALLEN Os'rRANDnR, residing at Ridgewood, Bergen county, State ot New Jersey, and being a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a General- Service Car, ot which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appeitains to malte and to `use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred torni of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details ot construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur to persons skilled in the art.

ln said drawings:

Figure l. is a top plan ot a portion of the car;

2 is a two-part longitudinal sectional view ot a portion ot the car showing the undertraming Fig. 3 is a two-part vertical sectional view looking toward the movable end wall;

Fig. 4. is a detail sectional view showing` the hinged door and a door stop;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation ot one end oit the car;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 oi Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation ot a the car;

Fin: 8 is an end elevation of part oli the car showing' the movable end wall:

Figi'. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 oi Fig. 8;

10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10ml() of Fig'. 8; and

l? 11 is a top plan detail view showing; the corner post cap and a part of the movable end wall.

This invention relates to car construction and more particularly to the typel oit car that may be employed in general service in the transportation et commodities'. either in bullr or packaged, wherein steel center sills are utilised toi' carrying the major portion ot the ladino; with lside and end walls termed ot composite material for carrying tho Mmainder oi. the lading. And. 'further fino doors. termine a part oi" the incav-ated bottom wall or tloor, that are hingportion oit Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1920.

serial No. 256,536.

edly connected to the center sill construction and extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom to the side sills and walls to which their tree ends may be operatively connected by suitable means serving to control their movements both in retaining and discharging;T the lading from the interior ot the car.

By providing a construction wherein the central portion of the bottom wall or floor is incavated so that the top of the center sill lies in a plane lower than the side sills, or the juncture of the side wallsv with the bottom wall, the lading, due to the downward and inward slope of the Hoor, tends to gravitate toward the center sill which places the center Vof gravity relatively low and immediately above the center sill. The bottom wall or iioor adjacent the car ends being composite and substantially tlat produces a desirable constriction and also permits the employment or" lading thereon to resist butiing stresses. To further increase the resistance, the end sills of the frame are angularly braced and connected with the side sills and to the draft sills in such a manner that butng shocks are more or less subdivided. in their transmission to the underframe.

One or" the end walls may be arranged to be dropped inward, and for this purpose it is loosely connected with a hinge connection to the underframe or end sill. It' desired, the loose connection will permit the end wall to be moved without disturbing` or utilizing the hinge connection. Suitable stops are also provided to cooperate with the wall as well as a latching` device to retain the wall in its vertical position to close the end of the car.

To facilitate the discharge ot the lading, certain of the transverse members are provided with depending; tlanpgcs having door stops thereon, which flanges may serve as chutes to directthe lading to one side of the traclrway and ear.

Composite side walls are employed, and by means of suitable trusses formed ot U- shaped stakes and braces secured thereto and to the side sills and the ends of the transverse members, the side walls are stil cned to carry their share oi2 the lading. The braces being` inclined. cooperate with the stakes and side walls to produce a trussed side wall structure.

In the embodiment illustrated, the underframe comprises a center sill construction composed of spaced channel members A and B having webs 1 and 2 of substantially uniform depth. The web 1 ofthe member A is provided with outturned flanges 3 and d constituting the compression and tension flanges. The web 2 of the member B is similarly provided with outturned flanges 5 and 6.

rIhe holsters C and D, shown' in Figs. l and 2, are pierced to permit the passage of the channel members A and B therethrough. At suitable intervals the members A and B are spaced and braced by suitable pan-shaped members indicated at 7 and 8.

The holsters C and l) are preferably formed of pressed diaphragms 1, center fillers 1b with top and bottom cover plates 1c and 1d, respectively, and are provided with the usual center and side bearings. Outwardly from the holsters, the center sill members A and B may be arranged to receive suitable draft gear E, as shown in Fig. 6. Near the outer ends of the sill webs 1 and 2 are draft lugs 10 and 11 that serve as stops or abutments for the draft gear. In Figs. 2 and 6,`the end portions of the sill members serve as draft sills, but the draft sills may be of' separate construction and secured' to the ends .of the center sills. To support the draft `gear E, a bracket i9 maybe employed which also serves as a bracing and spacing element kfor the members A and B of the center sills.

The end sills F and G may each be formed of pressed steel and have relatively deep diaphragme 12 and 13 that in turn are provided with inturned flanges. rllhe flanges for the sill F being indicated at lll, 15, 16 and 17' in Figs. 2 and 6, while the corresponding'flanges tor sill G are indicated at 18, 19, 2O and 21 in Fig. 5. As shown the top flanges 14 and 1S are wider than the bottom flanges 15 and 19. This provides a better bracing` for the end and also serves as a plate for supporting` the wood flooring sections H and l which extend horizontally 4across the end of the car. Fig. G shows to better advantage the general arrangement of the floorino` sections. To further support and brace the flanges 14- and 18 suitable pressings are employed to fill the space between the top of4 the center sill and the Y flanges. One of these is shown at 22 in Fig. 6. .This ligure also shows a flanged supporting element 23 extending outwardly beneath the flooring H and secured to the cover plate 24 of the center sill construction. This element also serves as the top cover plate of the bolster D, and, as shown, is* approximately Z-shaped in cross-section. The licor sections may be composed of strips of wood placed transversely of the car and provided with rabbets on their longitudinal edges as shown in Fig. G.

yThe cross bearers indicated at l and l( in Figs. 1 and 2 are in the form of pressed flanged diaphragms. and to produce an incavated bottoni wall or floor. they are tapered and inclined upwardly and outwardly from the center sill construction. These cross bearers are reinforced by strips 25 secured to top flanges ol the diaphragnis and extendingsubstantially across the width of the car. rl`he outer ends et these strips are so bent upwardly as to Alorm a recess between them and the upper llanges of the cross bearers for receiving one flange ot' each el the angle side sill members 2n and 27 as shown in Fig. 3.

Between each of the cross bearers, the center sill construction and a side sill there is formed a door opening indicated at L. rlhe projecting edges of the center sill top plate 24 and the strips 25 form striking plates to engage with a door 2S. ln order to provide for swinging the doors, door brackets 29 are connected to the sills, as shown in Fig. '-l. This bracket is per lorated for the door pintle 30 cooperating with the butt strap 31 secured to the door. lly this` arrangement a hinge connection is formed below and to one side et the door and is further protected by the projecting edge of the top plate 2l. To limit the downward movement of the door 2S, the cross bearer is provided with a door stop 32 secured to a flanged member 33 secured to the lower flanges ot the cross bearer K.

Fig. el shows a portion of this member ll projecting dowmvardly from and angularly to the cross bearer to form chute sides 'li" to coperate with thel door. The door stop 32 is preferably secured to the outer and lower corner of the part 2li-l of the member The size and projection of the parts 33 of the member 33 may be varied to form more or less of a chute and the door stop 32 may have its position varied relative to the member to conform to other desired discharging conditions.

Near the outer ends of certain of the cross bearers, brackets Se are secured to the diaphragms thereof through which l ackets may pass suitable ope ating shafts for any usual type of door operating device (not shown.)

CSecured to the flanged ends of the cross bearers are flanged U-shaped side stakes 35 which are secured also to the vertical standing flanges of the side sills 2G and 2T. In this connection it should he noted that these flanges are in alinement with the flanges at the ends ot the cross bearers. To provide seats for the horizontally arranged flanges of the side sills, the upper sides near the ends of the cross bearers extend horivontally as shown in Fig. 3. To protect these flanges and also to provide stops :tor the doors 28, striking strips 36 are secured on the horizontal flanges oi' the side sills.

The end sills F and Gr are provided with suitable biiiling devices 37 that may be ot any conventional type. llhese devices, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, are spaced from each other, and to provide tor a better distribution of buiiing shocks, suitable braces are employed to subdivide and transmit those shocks. ln Fig. 2 it will be seen that tvvo angularly arranged channeled braces are utilized to the rear of the builing device 37. @neet the braces 38 extends from its point of scour-ement to the side sill and end of the bolster to its attachment with the diaphragm ot the end sill. r.llo provide Yfor this attachment the end of the brace is bent, as shovvn. The companion brace 39 extends from its point of attachment with the center sill member forward oi the bolster to its point o securement to the end sill diaphragm. The end of this brace is also augularly bent, as shown. An inspection oit Fig.

shows that the butler head is at approximately the apex ci the triangle formed by the braces and 39. By this arrangement oiI bracing it is evident that bulling shoe rs are subdivided and transmitted to the underirame including the side sills and the center sill construction Without strain in the separate sills.

Further, Fig. 2 shows that the ends of chnneled members comprising the center sill construction are connected to the dia- ]'ihragm .l2 by means of the angles 40 and 4l. An additional brace or floor support 42 extends longitudinally rearward i'rom the top flange 14 of the end sill F and has its other end secured to the underside ot the top cover plate lc o'l' the bolster D. Four of thesebraces are employed but only one is shown and that in 2. rllhis ligure shows that it is slightly oil-set from the axis ot the bulling device 3'?. To prevent the braces 38 and 39 from spreading, a ilanged tie plate 43 is secured near their outer bent ends. his tie plate has a horizontal web and vertical flanges connected to the braces m and il?) (see Fig.

Mounted on the side 2G and 27 are iurring strips 44 one et which. is shown in Fig. These strips are approximately triangular `in cross section and serve to provide shed ing suri'afes for the lading.,

The sides oit car arent composite construction, that is Wood boards 45 are ein ployed in conjunction with the lol-shaped vertically disposed stakes 35. These ooards 45 and the stal-.res` 35 are secured together and to form trussed side walls suitably in clined or diagonally placed braces are employed. @ertain o' the braces are Wide as indicated at 4G, While others are slightly less in Width as indicated at 47. The posts and diagonal braces are connected with the boards and gusset plates 48 to connect the end of the braces with the flanges of the stakes. As shovvn in Fig. 7, there is plate at each end of the brace 46. The lower plate 48 serves to connect the flange oi' the stake and brace to the side sill.

The top edges o the sides of the car are provided With the compression angles 49 and 50 which serve to stillen the sides and to form the top chord oi' the truss. rl`he uppermost boards 45 are rabbeted on one side to term a seat for each vertical iange of the members 49 and 50.

rlhe upper plate 48 ties the upper end of the bra-ce 4G and the Wood strips or boards with a i'lange oit a stake 35 and the vertical flange oi one oi the compression angles as shown in Fig. 7. rllhe braces 46 and 47 are preferably formed of flat stock, While a brace 5l is formed as an angle. rlhe braces 51 are connected to the angle members 49 and 50, to the Wood strips 45, and to the gusset plate 202L extending rearwardly from the end sill. 'llo provide tor this 'attachment to the plate 20, the lower end oi. the braces are bent to lie .in a vertical plane as shovvn.

@ne end vvall of the car is preferably solid or immovable and is composed ol' vvood strips and the lil-shaped end stakes 53. rlhe stakes are provided with outturned flanges so as to provide a flat securing surface and are formed similarly to the side stakes As shown, this immovable end Wall is provided With tivo stakes vvhose lower portions are secured to the outer tace ot the web or diaphragm 13 of the end sill G'. To connect the strips 52 with the strips 45, suitable corner posts 54 and 55 are employed. rlhese posts may be formed oi rolled or pressed angles and extend upwardly from the corners ot the end sill Gr to which they are connected. Suitable means are employed to secure the Wood strips 4 5 and 52 to the posts., which means may be the bolts 56, as shown.

The top edge of the immovable end will 'is provided with an angle meirber 5"?" having one of its flanges lying horizontally. lily tending across the upper end olf' this 'Wall and connected to the menait 49 and .fill are planks 5Fl which serve as a if-,ing men'iber and also for bracing the side walls.

The other end Wall is movable, and is formed of Wood strips 59 While its ends are provided With angle protecting members 6G and bl. rllhc upper edge o'i the ivall is nro-- vided With an angle member d2 and the vertical ilange thereoi1 is secured on the inner iiace or side of the Wall so that horizontal flange `forms a protecting edge.

fit spaced intervals,` the lower edge et the Wall is notched as indicated at b3 in ilus. 3, 8, 9 and 10. To cover these notcliesior openings 63, the cover plates 64 and 65 are employed. Each of these plates is provided with an opening. To further retain the wood strips 59 in positiomthe straps 66 and 67 are secured upon each side thereof. Each of these straps is Ueshaped with limbs of different lengths, the shorter one being on the inner side of the wall. lV hen these straps are in position, the limbs pass through the openings in the plates -Gl and and a curved end closed slot or loopis Vformed by the lower end of the strap for disposal in the notch 63. To ceperate with the loop so formed, a link 68 is loosely connected therewith. This link is shown as having the shape of a trapezium and formed of round stock, with its configuration gener-ally resembling the notch 63 in which it is operatively placed.

The link 68 is rotatably mounted in spaced bearings formed by the eye bolts 69. rlhese bolts have a square shoulder formed just below the eyel so that they will have a relatively large contacting area with the angle member 70 which serves as a sto-p or abutment for the lower edge of the wall. The shanks of the eye bolts pass through suitable holes in a flangel of the angle 70, through the wood flooring and are connected to the car underframe as for example to the upper Harige, 14 of the end sill, which bolts then serve to securely hold them together.

The lower edge of the end wall is adapted to contact with the vertically arranged flange 71 of angle 0 and the outward movement of the end wall is thus prevented by this latter flange. As shown more particu larly in Fig. 10, the eyes of the bolts 69 lie between the plates 64 and G5 when the end wall is in a vertical or closed position. It will also be seen that each link G8 is approximately vertical and is protected against injury by the plates 64 and G5, the flange 71 and the straps 66 or 67. Thus the end wall, link and eye bolts lie in substantially the same vertical pl-ane.

T he movable end wall is provided with the wear strips 73. li desired a protection angle 7a may be secured to the inner side and Vbottomedge ofthe wall or end door.

Each of the corner posts at this end of the car is provided with an abutment formed of an angular pressing 7 rthis will provideY two flanges. in a vertical direction one of which is secured to the side wall while the other flange projects transversely and partly across the end, a filler strip 72 being secured to the inner edge portion of the pressing as shown in Fig.V S. .The lower portions of one of these angle pressings are secured to the diaphragm 12 and to the flange 17 of the end sill, and the other abutment has its flanges secured to the dia phragm 12 and to theV flange 16.

T he flange 75a which forms a stop for the end wall,"has a tapered or inclined edge so that the flange is wider at the bottom than at the top. Mounted on each of the corner posts is a cap 76 which is a flanged gusset so arranged that one of its flanges is secured to the flange 75a of the member 75 and its other flange to the horizontally positioned flange of the angle forming the top chord of the composite side wall, which member mayv be i9 or 50, thus additionally securing said pressing to assist it in resisting end thrust of the end door.

To hold the end wall in a closed position, suitable latching devices may be employed, and one form comprises a. plate 77 secured to the wall with a link 7 7 l formed as an eye bolt mounted at one end. A latch 78 is movably connected to the link and is adapted to engage with a catch 79 secured on the flange 7 5a.

From the above description it will be seen that a car is provided with longitudinal sills and cross bearers so arranged that an incavated bottom wall or floor is l'ormed to extend over a large portion of the car. 'lhe end portions of the floor are formed of wood strips arranged to produce a flat and hori- Zontal lading platform to cooperate with the remainder of the bottom wall. Lading may be readily discharged by means oi'V the hinged bottom doors, and should it be desired to carry material that may be more conveniently loaded and discharged from one end, one end wall is made movable.

The movable end wall is so arranged that it may be moved without bringing into play the .actual hinge connection as the slot formed at the end of the strap permits vertical and other movements without rotating the link in its bearings. By the novel arrangement of the several elements, it is manifest that the loose connection and hinged mounting are protected at all times from injury by the lading. Again, when the end wall is raised to a vertical position the sev eral elements are self-contained or inclosed and are also in substantially vertical aline ment and thus there are no protruding` parts. The end wall is held against outward movement by means of the stops 71, 7 5 and 7 G.

lt is evident that the construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings provides a drop end gate adapted for use in a gondola or general serv ice car with a hinge or hinges so constructed and arranged as to take up some of the stresses on the gate, thereby preventing the bulging of the gate and the consequent tendency of the car to leak due to pressure of the lading.

lV hat I claim is:

1-. il, car construction comprising a flanged end sill, side walls, angular abutments secured. to said end sill web, end sill flanges and side walls, an end wall pivoted to an end sill flange and engaging said abutments and Slfl a flanged member secured to said end sill and caps secured to said abutments for engaging said end wall.

2. A car construction comprising longitudinal and end sills, composite side walls having` a trussed form, a loosely connected and liingedly mounted drop end, transverse members inclined upwardly from the center sill, doors hingedly connected to said center sill and to operate between said center sill, a side sill and a pair of transverse members and forming therewith an incavated bottom wall, the bottom wall of said car near one end being substantially flat, and means for retaining the drop end in a vertical and closed position.

3. Al car construction having an Linderframe comprising longitudinal and end sills, transverse members, an incava-ted bottom Wall having a .plurality of openings therein between said members, doors for said openings, a portion of said bottom wall adjacent one end being flat, trussed side walls and end walls, one of' said ends being loosely connected with said under-frame.

4l. A car construction comprising longitudinal and end sills and transverse members, an incavated bottom wall forming part of the floor and having a plurality ofl openings therein, said wall being inclined downwardly from the side sills to the center sill, doors for said openings, the end ofthe floor adjacent one end sill. being substantially flat, trussed side walls, end walls, one of said ends being loosely connected with an end sill of said underiframe, and means to retain said end in a closed position.

5. A car construction having an underframe comprising longitudinal and end sills and transverse members, an incavated bot tom wall having a plurality of openings therein, doors for the openings, a portion of said bottom-wall at one end thereof being substantially flat, trussed side walls, end walls, one of said ends having a loose connection with said underi'rame through a hinge mounting.

6. A car construction comprising a center sill construction, composite side and end walls, transverse members inclined upwardly from said center sill and attached to said side walls, and a bottom wall, a part of which is composed of a series of doors operating in either' direction through and beyond a horizontal plane, and another part of said bottom wall at one end of the car being substantially flat.

7. A car construction comprising trussed side walls, end walls, a center sill construction, and a bottom wall incavated for a portion of its length and horizontal at said center sill construction and at its ends.

8. A car body having a bottom wall and comprising fixed flat end portions and an incavated central portion, a series of downwardly and inwardly inclined doors and a Center sill construction having a horizontal top plate forming the longitudinal central portion of the incavated central portion.

9. A car body having a bottom wall comprising horizontal end portions and an incavated central portion, trussed side walls and end walls, one of said end walls being loosely and hingedly mounted, a series of drop doors and a center sill construction having a horizontal top plate forming the longitudinal central portion ofthe incavated central portion. A

10. A car construction comprising a center sill construction, side and end walls, said side walls having stakes and inclined braces therebetween to form a truss, one of said end walls being loosely connected and hingedly mounted, and an incavated bottom wall provided with end portions lying in a horizontal plane.

11. A. car construction comprising a center sill, a bottom wall incavated for a portion of its length and horizontal at said renter sill and at an ond and a pivoted end wall adapted to fold back upon said horizontal end portion.

12. A car construction comprising a center sill, a bottom wall incavated for a por* tion of its length and horizontal at said center sill and at an end, side walls, abutments carried by said side walls and a pivoted end wall adapted to engage said abntrnents and said horizontal end portion.

13. A car construction comprising a center sill., a bottom wall incavated for a por tion of its length and horizontal at said center sill and at an end, an end sill, an end wall pivoted to said end sill and adapted to fold back u on said horizontal end portion.

1li. car construction comprising a center sill, a bottom wall incavated for a por tion of its length and horizontal at said center sill and at an end, side walls, abutments carried by said side walls, an end sill, and an end wall pivoted to said end sill and adapted to engage said abutments and said horizontal end portion.

15. A car construction comprising a flanged end sill, side walls, angular abutments secured to said end sill web, end sill flanges and side walls, an end wall pivoted to an end sill flange and engaging said abutments.

16. A drop end wall for a car having an underframe including an end sill, elongated U-shaped straps secured to the end wall and forming slots at their lower ends, links loosely connected to the slots to allow vertical movement of the end wall independently of the position of the links, a flanged me1nber secured transversely of the car above the end sill to form a stop for the end wall and eye-bolts passing through the stop and the end sill rotatably mounting the links.

loop at its lower end, a link loosely connected with the loop, and eye-bolts removably securing' the stop to the end sill and providing 'a hinge connection with the link, said loop permitting end wall movement independently of the hinge connection.

187A drop end wall construction for a car having an end sill comprising an end wall having spaced notches formed in its lower edge, a U-shaped strap having a limb secured upon each side of the wall and forming a loop in a notch, a link loosely connected with the loop and movable in a notch, and an eye-bolt passing through the end sill of the car and having a hinge connection with another portion of the link.

19. A drop end wall connection for a car havingl an underframe, which comprises an end wall having spaced notches Vformed` in its Vlower edge, perforated plates secured Aupon each face of the wall and covering said notches, a U-shaped strap having its limbs passing through a perforation in each plate with its transverse portion lying in the notch between the plates, the limbs being secured upon opposite faces of the wall, a link loosely'connected with the strap between said plates, a plurality of vertically positioned eye-bolts secured to an end sill with their eyes disposed to lie in the notch and to have a rotatable connection with the link, and a stop secured on the end sill adapted to engage the lower edge olf said wall.

20. A car end construction comprising an end sill, standards rising therefrom and defining the sides oi' an endgate pocket iframing, a member spaced from the end sill and .forming a base for said framing, flooring f between said base member and sill, and an end gate disposed within said training.

2l. A car comprising an umlerl'rame, a drop end i Vall, elongated U -shaped straps secured to said end wall, eye bolts secured to said underiirame, links connecting said eye bolts and straps and permitting Avertical movement of said end wall, supports carried by said nndertrame and engaged by said end wall and caps on said supports limiting the vertical movement of said end wall.

22. A ear end eoniprising a i'ianged end sill, side walls, stand ards secured to said end sill and side walls and defining the sides o t an endgate pocket framing, a member spaced from the end sill and forming the base for said framing, flooring between said base member and sill, an endgate disposed within said framing and means pivotally connecting said endgate and said sill and securing said base member to said sill.

ln witness whereof have hereunto set my hand.

ALLEN E. OSTRANDER. 

